It was a cool morning and these thrips appeared to warming themselves in the
sunshine. These thrips were feeding on pollen of
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) in Glendale, Arizona, USA. April
2013.

Thysanoptera -- Thrips Order

Close examination of many, if not most, open flowers will reveal many minute
golden yellow insects. Thrips have narrow, nearly transparent wings and are
cigar-shaped. They feed principally on pollen and the softer tissues in the
flower bud. Occasionally thrips can be abundant enough to cause feeding damage
to leaves and buds of mostly cultivated plants.

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